How practical would a rear-facing toddler car seat be...

[ChocolateMoose]

...as we don't have a car of our own so would be putting it in friends and relatives' cars of varying sizes, hire cars etc.?
And has anyone got any recommendations?

Thanks

I am hacking your thread as I am looking for next car seat for DD2. Where does the child put his legs, mine is already quite long at 3 I don't know where she would be able to fit in a RF?
anyone with one can tell me how the child seat in them?
TIA
sorry OP, we also don't have a car, so looking at the recommandation too...
And isn't your child bored and/or sick being RF when he gets older?

hi, probably as practical as any other group 1 seat. i have the britax two way elite and it has gone into every car we've tried had to use it in-from zafira to clio! it takes a couple of minutes extra to fit the tether straps but once you have done it a few times it's easy. we had to get this one as it doesn't have a support leg and i had undrefloor storage at the time but have been really happy with it and ds is now 2.4 yrs.

mamaloco look on the rf website, www.rearfacing.co.uk and there are loads of photos of older children. there is a space between my 2 seats and the back of the car seat, the britax two way elite and KISS for legs to go. the kids either cross them, have them straight or even put them up the back of the seat iykwim!

mamaloco - my dd prefers to be RF as she has a better view than FF as she can see out of the side and the back of the car. FF she's just looking at the back of the seat in front of her or the side.

Thanks all, I looked at the pictures. Does that mean it takes more place than a FF seat? (i.e. the front seat seems to be very forward to leave enough room for the seat). Both DH and me are quite tall, and never rented or familly has a big car or SUV. I don't think it will fit in a basic car, does it?

Ours fits in a VW Polo. I can't remember what it's called but the woman at the Essex car safety centre rec'd it. It's very easy to fit except for the tether which is a faff.

The issue with any car seat is that they work differently in different cars - it's why the Which tests are stupid.

There's no issue with legs, though. I mean, adults don't have legs straight in cars either, do they?

Leg room for the adults is an issue for us (we have a BeSafe Izi Combi in a Renault Modus). DH is tall and can't sit in front of the RF seat. Luckily I'm short so we can manage it with the seat behind me but its a bit annoying having to swop the seats depending on who is driving. Can imagine it would be a bit of a problem in some small hire cars if you're both tall.

I think I remember someone on here saying the Britax 2-way elite is has the smallest footprint of any RF seat, and is no bigger than a FF. Couldn't swear to it though. If its true I'm not sure why we didn't get that seat ourselves!

Ive got a Britax Multi-tech and its great - its heavy though and needs tethers (well it did in my old car but ive got a volvo xc90 with isofix now and i cant work out how to use them so have stuck to the tether method) I think they give toddlers plenty of footroom and depending on the sort you get shouldnt be too difficult to get in and out of even a smaller car.

Just wanted to say thank you to those who've replied. Need to do some research, but from what people have said sounds like the Britax 2 way elite might be a possibility...

Yes thanks everybody and chocolate to have shared your thread!
Confusled most pictures of childless RF seats show no space at all between the back of the seat of the car and the seat of the carseat. Which me as to whether the children had to travel like bouddahs or with thier legs up.

Good idea mjin

In Romania loopy ( we have the same name!), but I have a mums'group I will ask around, thanks

Mjinhiding - my little boy (2.4) also loves to chat and point things out - he tells me if there's a police car, or tractor etc etc coming up the road behind me! it makes no difference - if anything it's easier to chat, as I can see him directly in a second mirror I have. If they are forward facing - hopefully you wouldn't be looking round at them all the time anyway to chat!! If anything rearfacing makes your driving safer as it takes away the temptation to turn your body, but you can just chat away in your rearfacing mirror! My son now also has learnt the knack of looking in his little mirror to look out the front window too- so he's got better vision than any child- full 360!! Hope this helps

ps- I'm in Devon and have two seats- mroe than happy for anyone to come and try out

Loopymumsy "there are lots of MN-ers willing to demo their RF seats too" Any in West London I wonder...?